Dimming lights at end beginning and end of day?

[pjjphoto]

I have been keeping Reef Aquariums for over 20 years and I am in the process of setting up my chameleon enclosure, I got it from Dragon Strand. In my reef tanks I have LED lights that change spectrum as the sun rises and sets and then dims into night. Fully programable. That way the fish are not shocked into darkness or full power lighting. I am sure I could use one of those lights for a chameleon daylight but they cost about 700 bucks.

I guess my question is besides staggering your on/off timers for your UVB, Daylight, Basking lights is there anybody out there with experience setting up the lights on timed dimmers and are there any products out there to make this happen.

Thanks.

 

[Goose502]

I used the programmed/dimming LED lights for my chameleon. It’s great, but I upgraded my lighting to provide a little more UVB and more lighting for plants and it left no room for the LED fixture. Instead of dimming, I systematically shut off different lights. First, my basking, then I shut off banks of the fluorescents one by one until dark. But isn’t as nice or aestedic as the LEDs, but better overall better for health and plant growth.

 

[nightanole]

Been doing this since the 1990's. No one ever died from using a lamp timer to turn on and off the lights for the entire room. Most of my crew is on the sleeping sticks a few hours before lights out anyway...

 

[Decadancin]

I also use a multiple-light system that has different timers. I like the Light Your Reptiles quad fixture that has the blue LED moonlights. The lights stay on after lights out for a bit and come on first so there is no bright lights on. (More for me than the chams ) Here's a link to my setup...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/winter-lighting-schedule.754/

 

[pjjphoto]

I used the programmed/dimming LED lights for my chameleon. It’s great, but I upgraded my lighting to provide a little more UVB and more lighting for plants and it left no room for the LED fixture. Instead of dimming, I systematically shut off different lights. First, my basking, then I shut off banks of the fluorescents one by one until dark. But isn’t as nice or aestedic as the LEDs, but better overall better for health and plant growth.

Thanks. I was planning on having three lights and doing the same. Was wondering with all the new smart home stuff if anyone found a digital timer that would dim for say 20 minutes before shit off. I will be doing more research into this. Just soften the shock of a light just turning off.

 

[pjjphoto]

Been doing this since the 1990's. No one ever died from using a lamp timer to turn on and off the lights for the entire room. Most of my crew is on the sleeping sticks a few hours before lights out anyway...

I completely agree I just like it and it made a large difference for my corals and fish. I’m not saying the animal will die. It is in captivity anyway so not a natural environment. Just thinking about trying to trying to put as much thought into the naturalness of the light as I do the cage decorations. Just personal preference, not scientifically needed.